Media+Center+Promotion+and+Advocacy

= Media Center Promotion and Advocacy =

Tools for encouraging use of the media center and its resources and for telling your media center's story.

All Grade Levels
There is only one of you and 1,600 of them, right? Extend your reach by posting "screencasts" of the lessons and tutorials that you would ordinarily present face-to-face. Share usage statistics, work samples, and photos easily with decision makers. Videos can be as long as 15 minutes at no cost. A yearly subscription of $15 adds tons of usability features.
 * Screencast-o-matic**. ([])

Why not send an email out on Monday mornings to your faculty containing a useful web site //or// something new in the media center //or// a media related announcement //or// a technology tip //or// anthing that would keep the school media center (and the services it can provide!) visible to the faculty! You could set up a reminder in your Outlook Calendar to prepare the MMM draft on Thursday and set a Delay Delivery Option for Monday morning! Sounds like a great idea!
 * Monday Morning Minute.** Jane Anderegg at Cherokee High School shared an idea from her sister, a media specialist in Michigan. It is a 21st century twist on the old xeroxed faculty newsletter idea called the //Monday Morning Minute//.


 * Hijack Classes for Booktalks!** One high school librarian posted on LM_Net that she hijacks classes for booktalks. She begins __each class,__ no matter why they are in there, with a couple of booktalks. Interest in reading has spiked! The titles she booktalks are instantly checked out! A middle school librarian added to the posting by saying that she crashes classrooms (with the teacher's permission) to booktalk!


 * Guerilla Booktalks**! Sometimes they don't come to you, so go to them. Pre-arrange with a teacher to "interrupt" class for booktalks and in-class checkout. Discuss the amount of time that is acceptable for the interruption before your visit. Load a cart with your laptop, barcode scanner, and your favorite books. Arrive in the classroom at least five minutes into the class period to appear that you are entering off-the-cuff. Booktalk several authors and genres to make sure that you have your bases covered with the group. You don't have to do anything fancy. If you have new books, tell the kids why you think they'll want to read them and then read the blurb from the back of the book. After booktalking, allow students to make returns, do renewals, and checkout items from the cart. This is as much about building rapport as it is about sharing your enthusiasm for a great book.